F. James Rutherford
Encyclopedia
F. James Rutherford is a science professor. He is the founder of AAAS's Project 2061, a long-term effort to reform Science education
in the United States
.
He has been involved in Harvard Project Physics
and Project City Science, and he also was Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation
with President Jimmy Carter
, Assistant Director of the United States Department of Education
and Educational Director of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(AAAS).
, his first contact with science education was as radar teacher during the Second World War in 1945. After the war, he returned to the University of California, Berkeley
where he completed his bachelor's degree in biochemistry. His war experience led him to obtain an MA in science education at Stanford University
, with a master's thesis on the status of teaching about atomic energy in California.
In 1945, he married Barbara Webster, mother of his four children. With her assistance, James Rutherford produced his own materials for teaching science courses in the high schools of South San Francisco and San Bruno, California
. History and philosophy of science were both included, as he placed them at the core of understanding the nature of scientific achievement. Rutherford's reputation as a teacher grew and more students enrolled in his classes.
, the director of Harvard Project Physics
, which provided teachers a variety of products they could utilize according to their personal styles. Rutherford's advice to teachers was: «Keep the things you like, tear out and throw out the things you do not, try some others and gradually over five years, you will have your own notebook».
In 1970, Jim Rutherford accepted a position at New York University
(NYU), as Chair of Science and Mathematics Department in Graduate School of Nursing and Education. He taught Science education seminars, History of Science, Sociology of Science, Public understanding of Science and Science and Technology. At that time Rutherford put his energy into a systemic effort for improving Science Education of New York City School District: an NYU program known as "Project City Science".
(NSF) by President Jimmy Carter
. He was responsible for all Science, Mathematics and Engineering education programs. He also served in this administration as Assistant Secretary for Research and Improvement in the United States Department of Education
.
In 1981, Rutherford became the Executive Director of the Education Division of the AAAS
, and in 1985, he began work on Project 2061, which coincided with the arrival of Comet Halley
to help the schools to foster science literacy
among all Americans. Named after the next year of the comet Halley's return, Project 2061's title embodies the symbolism of the long term nature of this reforming effort, ingraining in the populace the patience and persistence that would be necessary to sustain the project over the long haul.
Rutherford stepped down as Education Director of the AAAS and Project 2061 in 1998 and retired from the AAAS in 2001. His “retirement” project is a grant-funded Environmental Science curriculum program, entitled “Resources for Environmental Literacy”. Additionally, he is an advisor to many countries revising their standards in Science education. He was also an important advisor in the creation of three science museums in Spain: House of Sciences, Domus and Aquarium Finisterrae (=mc2).
F. James Rutherford has received many honors like the first University of California Lawrence Hall of Science
Award for a Lifelong Commitment to Science Education.
Science education
Science education is the field concerned with sharing science content and process with individuals not traditionally considered part of the scientific community. The target individuals may be children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education comprises...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He has been involved in Harvard Project Physics
Harvard Project Physics
Harvard Project Physics was a national curriculum development project to create a secondary school physics education program in the United States. The project was active from 1962 to 1972, and produced the Project Physics series of texts, which were used in physics classrooms in the 1970s and 1980s...
and Project City Science, and he also was Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
with President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, Assistant Director of the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
and Educational Director of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(AAAS).
Formative years
Originally from Stockton, CaliforniaStockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, his first contact with science education was as radar teacher during the Second World War in 1945. After the war, he returned to the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
where he completed his bachelor's degree in biochemistry. His war experience led him to obtain an MA in science education at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, with a master's thesis on the status of teaching about atomic energy in California.
In 1945, he married Barbara Webster, mother of his four children. With her assistance, James Rutherford produced his own materials for teaching science courses in the high schools of South San Francisco and San Bruno, California
San Bruno, California
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 41,114 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport and Golden Gate National Cemetery.-Geography:San Bruno is located at...
. History and philosophy of science were both included, as he placed them at the core of understanding the nature of scientific achievement. Rutherford's reputation as a teacher grew and more students enrolled in his classes.
University career
Rutherford completed his doctorate at Harvard in 1961. His dissertation was entitled “An Analysis and Evaluation of Polices and Practices in the Selection, Training and Employment of Science Teachers”. He was, with Fletcher Watson and Gerald HoltonGerald Holton
Gerald Holton is Mallinckrodt Research Professor of Physics and Research Professor of the History of Science, Emeritus, at Harvard University.Born 1922 in Berlin, he grew up in Vienna before emigrating in 1938...
, the director of Harvard Project Physics
Harvard Project Physics
Harvard Project Physics was a national curriculum development project to create a secondary school physics education program in the United States. The project was active from 1962 to 1972, and produced the Project Physics series of texts, which were used in physics classrooms in the 1970s and 1980s...
, which provided teachers a variety of products they could utilize according to their personal styles. Rutherford's advice to teachers was: «Keep the things you like, tear out and throw out the things you do not, try some others and gradually over five years, you will have your own notebook».
In 1970, Jim Rutherford accepted a position at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU), as Chair of Science and Mathematics Department in Graduate School of Nursing and Education. He taught Science education seminars, History of Science, Sociology of Science, Public understanding of Science and Science and Technology. At that time Rutherford put his energy into a systemic effort for improving Science Education of New York City School District: an NYU program known as "Project City Science".
Government and scientific society
In 1977, Rutherford was appointed Assistant Director of the National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
(NSF) by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. He was responsible for all Science, Mathematics and Engineering education programs. He also served in this administration as Assistant Secretary for Research and Improvement in the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
.
In 1981, Rutherford became the Executive Director of the Education Division of the AAAS
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, and in 1985, he began work on Project 2061, which coincided with the arrival of Comet Halley
Comet Halley
Halley's Comet or Comet Halley is the best-known of the short-period comets, and is visible from Earth every 75 to 76 years. Halley is the only short-period comet that is clearly visible to the naked eye from Earth, and thus the only naked-eye comet that might appear twice in a human lifetime...
to help the schools to foster science literacy
Scientific literacy
Scientific literacy encompasses written, numerical, and digital literacy as they pertain to understanding science, its methodology, observations, and theories.-Definition:...
among all Americans. Named after the next year of the comet Halley's return, Project 2061's title embodies the symbolism of the long term nature of this reforming effort, ingraining in the populace the patience and persistence that would be necessary to sustain the project over the long haul.
Rutherford stepped down as Education Director of the AAAS and Project 2061 in 1998 and retired from the AAAS in 2001. His “retirement” project is a grant-funded Environmental Science curriculum program, entitled “Resources for Environmental Literacy”. Additionally, he is an advisor to many countries revising their standards in Science education. He was also an important advisor in the creation of three science museums in Spain: House of Sciences, Domus and Aquarium Finisterrae (=mc2).
F. James Rutherford has received many honors like the first University of California Lawrence Hall of Science
Lawrence Hall of Science
The Lawrence Hall of Science is a public science center featuring hands-on exhibits and activities. Located in the hills above the University of California, Berkeley campus, LHS is also a resource center for preschool through high school science and mathematics education.Established in 1968 in...
Award for a Lifelong Commitment to Science Education.